Gilgamesh – Textbook Questions pages 504 512
1. According to the narrator, who originally
wrote The Epic of Gilgamesh?
According to the narrator Gilgamesh wrote his
own story.
2. In what ways is Gilgamesh unlike an
ordinary mortal?
He is two thirds god and one third mortal. His
godlike qualities are his courage and beauty.
3. What does Enkidu dream? Why does Anu
say that Enkidu must die? Does Enkidu
believe that this dream is just an idle
imagining, or does he believe it will come to
pass?
He dreams about his own death; Anu says
Enkidu must die as punishment for he and
Gilgamesh killing the Bull of Heaven. Enkidu
believes that the dream will come true.
4. How does Enkidu feel about the fact that he
must die?
He is sad that he has to leave Gilgamesh.
5. Where does the “awful being” bring Enkidu
in his dream?
The “awful being” brings him to the
underworld.
6. What is the underworld like? In what way is
death an equalizing force?
The underworld is frightening, dark and dusty.
Death is an equalizing force because powerful
people in life are servants in the underworld.
7. What shames Enkidu about his death? How
had he hoped to die?
He is dying of sickness; he had wanted to die
in battle.
8. In what way would you characterize
Gilgamesh’s reaction to Enkidu’s death?
Gilgamesh reacts badly he becomes almost
wild; he stops bathing, shaving, and begins
wearing animal skins.
9. Why can’t Gilgamesh rest? What does he
hope to do?
He is afraid of dying; he hopes to find the
secret to immortality.
10. What makes Gilgamesh finally give up
Enkidu to the Earth?
Maggots begin to consume the body.
11.
What does Utnapishtim’s answer mean?
He means that men were not meant to live
forever; he is telling Gilgamesh not to be so
interested in immortality.
12. What surprises Gilgamesh about
Utnapishtim? Why does this surprise him?
Gilgamesh is surprised that Utnapishtim looks
like a normal man; he was expecting him to
look like a hero prepared for battle.
13. Why do the gods want to exterminate
humankind? Who warns Utnapishtim and
why?
The gods are annoyed that human beings are
too loud and they cannot sleep. Ea warned
Utnapishtim because he had taken a vow to
protect him.
14. What does Ea tell Utnapishtim to do?
Tear down his house and build a boat, reject
all worldly possessions, and put some of each
animal in the boat.
15. What does Ea tell Utnapistim to say to
the people of Shurrupak?
He tells him to say that Enlil is mad at him
and he has gone off to hide with Ea.
16. In what way do the gods react to the
flood? What does Ishtar regret?
The gods are terrified and regret it. Ishtar
regrets agreeing to the flood because her
people are suffering.
17. What has happened to the world?
The world has been covered by water.
18. What does Utnapishtim do when he sees
the waters have retreated? To what does
Utnapishtim compare the gods? Is this a
flattering comparison?
He sends out birds to see if there is anywhere
for them to land. He compares the gods to
flies; it is not a flattering comparison.
19. According to Ea why was Enlil’s
punishment “senseless”?
The punishment did not fit the crime.
20. What does Enlil do in response to Ea’s
criticism of his actions?
Enlil grants Utnapishtim immortality.
21. What does Utnapishtim ask Gilgamesh?
What contest does Utnapishtim suggest to
Gilgamesh? What does Gilgamesh do
immediately?
Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh that if he wants
immortality he will avoid sleep for 6 days and
7 nights. Gilgamesh immediately falls asleep,
however.
22. What does Utnaphishtim say about
humans? What does he tell his wife to do?
Why?
Utnapishtim says that all men lie and he tells
his wife to bake bread each day Gilgamesh
sleeps.
23. What is the first thing that Gilgamesh
says when he awakens? In what way does
this prove true Utnapishtim’s belief about
humanity?
He lies and says he hardly slept; Gilgamesh
proves that Utnapishtim is correct about men
being deceivers.
24. What does Utnapishtim “give”
Gilgamesh for a gift?
He gives him the location of the plant that will
make someone immortal.
25. What happens to the plant? What
occurrence in the natural world does this
story explain?
A serpent takes the plant while Gilgamesh is
taking a bath. This explains why a snake is
able to shed its skin.
26. In what way does Gilgamesh achieve a
limited form of immortality?
Gilgamesh receives a limited form of
immortality through his story and the
greatness of his city.